Written for experienced web developers, Professional Ajax shows how
to combine tried-and-true CSS, XML, and JavaScript technologies
into Ajax. This provides web developers with the ability to create
more sophisticated and responsive user interfaces and break free
from the "click-and-wait" standard that has dominated the web since
its introduction.

Professional Ajax discusses the range of request brokers
(including the hidden frame technique, iframes, and XMLHttp) and
explains when one should be used over another. You will also learn
different Ajax techniques and patterns for executing client-server
communication on your web site and in web applications. By the end
of the book, you will have gained the practical knowledge necessary
to implement your own Ajax solutions. In addition to a full chapter
case study showing how to combine the book's Ajax techniques into
an AjaxMail application, Professional Ajax uses many other examples
to build hands-on Ajax experience. Some of the other examples
include:

web site widgets for a news ticker, weather information, web
search, and site search

preloading pages in online articles

incremental form validation

using Google Web APIs in Ajax

creating an autosuggest text box

Professional Ajax readers should be familiar with CSS, XML,
JavaScript, and HTML so you can jump right in with the book and
begin learning Ajax patterns, XPath and XSLT support in browsers,
syndication, web services, JSON, and the Ajax Frameworks, JPSpan,
DWR, and Ajax.NET.